Increased primary hypertension associated with childhood and adolescent obesity
Effects such as obesity, salty food intake, and high blood pressure patients in the family
[현대건강신문=김형준 기자] May 17th every year is ‘World Hypertension Day’, established to raise awareness about high blood pressure and prevent diseases. In particular, in recent years, as obesity has increased significantly among children and adolescents, the number of cases of early adult diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes is also increasing rapidly.
In fact, a team led by Professor Mi-jeong Park of the Department of Pediatrics at Sanggye Paik Hospital surveyed the health examination data of 6,308 children and adolescents aged 12 to 18 who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Survey from 2007 to 2018. % has been shown to increase.
Metabolic syndrome is a case of abdominal obesity and two or more metabolic abnormalities among hyperglycemia, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and low HDL cholesterol.
Hypertension is a typical adult disease and it is known that it occurs more with age. However, with the recent increase in the obesity population among children and adolescents, the number of hypertensive patients is also increasing.
In particular, as intensive social distancing continues due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, the obesity rate among children and adolescents has increased in the aftermath, and a warning light has been turned on in health care.
According to the 2019 student health examination sample statistics released by the Ministry of Education, the overweight or overweight ratio among children and adolescents is 25.8%, increasing every year for the past five years. It is known that 80% of obese children and adolescents become obese as adults, and the risk of complications such as high blood pressure and diabetes is very high.
In the case of high blood pressure in childhood and adolescence, in the past, secondary hypertension with a cause of increased blood pressure, such as cardiovascular disease, hyperthyroidism, and chronic kidney disease, was mostly secondary hypertension. are doing
Primary hypertension, also called essential hypertension, accounts for more than 90% of hypertensive patients. It is known to be affected by obesity, salty food intake, smoking, stress, and if there is a high blood pressure patient in the family, which are known risk factors for hypertension without a specific cause.
Kim Cheol-am, head of the Department of Pediatrics at Daedong Hospital, said, “If both parents have high blood pressure, more than 46% of their children will develop high blood pressure. Because there are no risk factors or blood pressure is higher than normal, children and adolescents should also measure and manage blood pressure regularly,” he said.
In general, in the case of adults, the Korean standard systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or higher or diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or higher is called hypertension. However, in the case of pediatric blood pressure, normal blood pressure is less than the 90th percentile of the blood pressure of children of the same sex and age, and a blood pressure greater than or equal to 120/80 mg at the 90 to 95 percentile or less is considered prehypertensive. If it is between the 95th and 99th percentile +5 mmHg, hypertension is classified as stage 1, and if it is at the 99th percentile + 5 mmHg or higher, hypertension is classified as stage 2.
If you are diagnosed with pre-hypertension, you need to improve your living environment, such as weight loss, physical activity, and diet, and your blood pressure will be measured every 6 months. In the case of stage 1 hypertension, the cause and complications of hypertension are examined. In the case of primary hypertension, the living environment is improved. Secondary hypertension caused by a specific cause is treated for the underlying disease. In the case of high blood pressure stage 2, after an examination of the cause, not only improvement of living environment but also drug treatment is carried out at the same time.
Daedong Hospital Cardiovascular Center Manager Kim Byung-su (cardiovascular internal medicine specialist) said, “If high blood pressure develops, you must improve your daily lifestyle.” In addition to reducing stress, smoking and drinking among adolescents, which are rapidly increasing in recent years, can also exacerbate high blood pressure, so smoking cessation and abstinence from alcohol are essential.”
On the other hand, even before the age of 3, if there is a hereditary kidney disease in the family history, if the baby was born prematurely, if you have been admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, if you have congenital heart disease, if you have recurrent urinary tract infection, hematuria, or proteinuria △ If you have had an organ transplant, have been diagnosed with a malignant tumor, have been taking medications that increase blood pressure, etc.